Visited by thought, another darkened day
How you're like the sun, hiding somewhere beyond the rain
I'm needing for the light, stormy is the grey
Rivers overflowing, drowning all our yesterdays
It was right before kickoff in Houston that I realized I hadn't written a post after the game in Las Vegas. I figured it didn't really matter and the game really wasn't about me. Anyway, FAITHFUL READER, you probably could figure out everything I was thinking. The regular season finale saw Quentin Johnston with (statistically) the game of his life and even a touchdown from DJ Chark. The Steelers loss to Cincy allowed us to secure the #5 seed, which was definitely preferable to going to Baltimore. The Ravens have flaws, as everyone was reminded of last week in Buffalo, but I truly didn't think we had the talent to expose them. Our Monday Night loss confirmed that for me.
Visited by thoughts on another darkened week
How even every winner hits a losing streak
The mistakes we all make and perfectly repeat
Chains are made by DNA refusing
Refusing to release
My thoughts and expectations were for us to win at least one postseason game. I thought maybe if we go to KC (as we would have in 2023), we'd have momentum and everyone would be pulling for us to knock off the champs. Basically, I envisioned what actually happened for the Texans. I didn't watch the game, but saw that they seemed to have KC on the ropes until they didn't. With Diggs and Dell out, Stroud kept Houston in the game with not many weapons. A missed field and extra point kept it too close and then the penalty happened. 3rd down and goal led to another Mahomes miracle pass to Kelce and that was it.
Combing through the wreckage, pouring through the sand
Surrounded by the remnants, what we could and couldn't have
Raking through the ashes, falling through my hands
Charcoal on the faces in the burned up photographs
I think Houston was the best opponent we could have hoped for. Daniel Popper correctly noted that they had a legit defense, but I thought we did as well. It doesn't matter that Rex Ryan said it was like having a bye. I have no doubt that Harbaugh had the team prepared. They didn't choke, like Charger teams of the past. We never had control of the game in order for that to happen.
Oh, visited by thought and this I got to say
If you're feeling the leaving, I can't make you stay
I've only ever wanted for it not to be this way
But you're now like the water
And the water will find its way
Looking back, you can question the decision to put Elijah Molden back on the field right after he hobbled off because he was hurt for the year on the first play back. I have no idea what went into that decision, but you could argue that his absence hurt. The same could be said for Josh Palmer, though he's seemingly always injured. Then again, he's a lot better of a candidate for a 50-50 ball than Johnston. Palmer gave us that 2--point conversion against Denver at least.
So what happened in Houston? You could argue that settling for field goals was a bad start. Immediately after the Leonard interception, Herbert threw that long pass to Johnston. I understand that it was supposed to be from the other hash mark but watching that play in slo-mo confirms all the flaws in Johnston's game. Watching him flail about trying grab the ball, it's not a 50-50, but a 10-90.
Oh, visited by thoughts and not just in the night
That I no longer give a fuck who is wrong and who's right
This game of winner takes all and all means nothing left
Spoils go the victor and the other left for dead
Uh-uh
Listening to "Hops with Pop," the question was asked what a second playoff loss would mean to Herbert's reputation. Popper confirmed there would be a narrative but that he only cared if Herbert's play was the reason we lost. Herbert was as healthy and effective going into the game as he's been in ages. No one, even Popper, thought he'd play like that. After watching the tape, he confirmed there were opportunities for him to run throughout the game. We saw all year long how important that was and his run in Vegas was a perfect example.
So why didn't he run a single time? Did he lose the game for us? Was it the blocking or the lack of a running game? Or did our running game suck because of the blocking? Why did JK Dobbins get one carry in the second half, especially since people assume Roman is addicted to the running game?
Herbert played badly, but I truly know he can be clutch and refuse to blame it all on him. No one understands more than him that he'll take most of the heat. Joe Alt had his worst game of the year and the IOL was abysmal. I know Harbuagh and Hortiz said in their end of the year presser that they let Herbo down. If they truly believe that then Bozeman can't be back as a starter, no matter how much they say they love him. Zion and Quentin can't be blamed for where they were drafted but I think this is as good as they are ever going to be. They are both huge liabilities. I know Johnston won't be cut but he can't be WR 2 again. Herbert trusts him and that's a problem. I think we all now understand why they didn't play Chark. He can't block, seems lazy, and immediately posted a pic of a blunt after the loss, saying how tough it was not to smoke. Maybe he should have.
Thankfully, I was loosely buzzed throughout the game. Obviously, I sensed that the 3rd and 16 play was huge. However, the defense pulled it together throughout the year even after it seemed like they wouldn't. I know I wrote them off in the Bengals, Falcons, and Broncos games. All year long, the Chargers tried to establish the run. You could argue that a lot of the second half struggles correlated to the inability to rush. We knew this team was flawed, but hoped for some magic we never got.
It's impossible to look at Washington and say "why can't that be us?" Daniels has already put together a rookie season that eclipsed Herbert's. Of course they have Anthony Lynn as a RB coach and not a HC. If Herbert ran as often as Daniels, he'd be in the hospital. I don't plan to watch football until the Super Bowl but would prefer that Ekeler and Michael "Shato" Davis aren't playing, but it doesn't matter. No one wanted Ekeler and Daniels elevates that entire team. Davis would have cost them the Falcons game if the backup kicker made it. As the Raiders hire a new coach, it's easy for me to get obsessed with what other teams do. But I'd be projecting about how I feel about the way the season ended. Did we overachieve? I guess so. We'll really only know when Hortiz spends all that money next season. No matter who wins the Super Bowl, the Chargers will need to step up their game. They stayed reasonably healthy, but were exposed in the playoffs. They can't miss the playoffs or go one and done again. We got Harbaugh so we'd stop getting in our own way.
Combing through the wreckage
Holding out, holding on
Combing through the wreckage
The biggest thing we've learned from all the disappointments is if you ever go deep into the playoffs, you'd better finish the job. It's more painful the farther you get. Are we building something beginning with this season?
I guess it could always be worse. We'll talk again when the offseason truly begins. I am sure more thoughts and feelings about the playoff loss will bleed into future posts.
JIC,
RLW
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